Selective tape recorder for endless tape cartridges

ABSTRACT

A selective tape recorder for a plurality of endless tape cartridges comprises storing means for storing a plurality of endless tape cartridges, playing means for reproducing the sound tracks of the tape, means for carrying the cartridge from the storing means to the playing means and from the playing means to the storing means, and control means for controlling the storing means, the playing means and the feeding means electrically and correlatively, whereby selection of the desired cartridge from the stored cartridges, conveyance and feed of the selected cartridge to the playing means, sound reproduction and return of the cartridge can be automatically performed.

United States Patent 1191 Yokata 1 Dec. 18, 1973 [5 1 SELECTIVE TAPE RECORDER FOR 3,332,319 7/1967 Gerry 274 4 F ENDLESS TAPE CARTRIDGES 3,359,665 12/1967 Gerry 274/4 F 3,383,156 5/1968 Fried et a1 1 274/4F 17 1 Inventory Tuneo Yokata, Osaka, Japan 3,508,818 4/1970 Fried et a1. 274/4 F Assigneez Funai Electric Co, Ltd. Osaka, 3,643,962 2/1972 Whlte et a1 274/4 F Japan v 'f Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian [22] plied: 1971 Attorney-Dawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus [21] Appl. No.: 171,846 n V V H WUWAWWF V M [57] ABSTRACT Foreign App Priority Data A selective tape recorder for a plurality of endless Apr. 30, 1971 Japan ..46/28756 p cartridges Comprises Storing means for Storing 11 Apr. 30, 1971 Japan ..46/28757 p u ality of endless tape cartridge's,'p1aying means for Apr. 30, 1971 Japan ..'..46/28758 reproducing the sound tracks of thetape, means for P 71 J p --46/28759 carrying the cartridge from the storing means to the May 18, 1971 Japan ..46/33757 playing means and from the playing means to the stor- May'18, Japan means and control means for controlling the stor. May 18, 1971 Japan....; ..46/33759 i means, the playing means and the feeding means 181 1971 Japan 4663760 electrically and correlatively, whereby selection of the m r desired cartridge from the stored cartridges, convey- [52] U.S. Cl. 274/4 F, 242/198, 352/123 ance and f d f the Selected cartridge to h i [51 1 mean ound reproduction and return of the cartridge [58] Field of Search 274/4 F, 10 D; can be automatically performed 242/198; 352/78, 123 A .2

' 6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,946 5/1943 Osborne 274/10 D 71 E 72 Q 75 77 01 7s I =2; as 73 85 PATENTEUDEB 1 8 1915 SHEET 10F 7 126 125 120114 us 11? m;

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PATENTED DEC 1 8 I975 SHEEI 2 0F 7 Pmgmgnuu: 18 1915 I 3.779560 sum 3 or 7 .PMENTEDDEC 18 ms SHEET t 0F 7 l I VIII/A PAIENIED nan 18 ms SHEET 5 0F 7 SELECTIVE TAPE RECORDER FOR ENDLESS TAPE CARTRIDGES The present invention relates to an improvement of a tape recorder for endless tape cartridges, and more particularly to'means for automatically selecting and feeding a desired tape cartridge from a plurality of stored cartridges in storing means to sound reproduction means or playing means.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel tape recorder that affords automatically selecting a desired cartridge from a plurality of stored cartridges in'storing means and reproducing the sound tracks of the selected cartridges at playing means of the tape recorder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for effectively carrying the selected cartridge from the stored position to the playing means and for returning the cartridge from the playing means to its original position in the storing means.

Further object of the present invention is to provide unique means for correlatively controlling the storing means, the conveying means and the playing means, so that by only pushing one of the desired selecting buttons, selection of the cartridges, conveyance and feed of the selected cartridge, sound reproduction and return of the cartridge can be automatically performed.

In carrying out the invention in one aspect thereof, a

selective tape recorder for endless cartridges is provided in which the apparatus comprises storing means for receivingap lurality of endless tape cartridges, playing means for reproducing the sound tracks the tape, means for carrying the cartridge from the storing means to the playing means and from the playing means to the storing means, and control means for correlatively controlling the storing means, the playing means and the carrying means.

Other objects and advantages of the subject invention will become apparent from reading the following detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the tape recorder according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partially broken away, of the tape recorder;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the taperecorder, but being obviated a front wall of the recorder;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partially sectioned front view of mechanism in the storing means of the tape recorder;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the recorder taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the recorder taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the recorder taken along the line 7 7 of FIG. 4;

view of the carrying of the type contained in a cartridge 12 commonly known as a cassette. The device 10 comprises a storing means 11 for receiving a plurality of cartridges 12, means 13 for feeding and withdrawing the cartridges to and from the means 11, soundreproducing means or playing means 14 for reproducing the sound tracksthe magnetic tape, and a control means 15 for controlling the means 11, 12 and 14 electrically and correlatively.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the storing means 11 comprises a rotating shaft 17 horizontally rotatably mounted to a housing 16 by means of bearing 21 and 22, a wheel 18 removably supported on the shaft 17 at free end portion thereof and provided with a plurality of radial receiving spaces 40 for receiving the cartridges, a drive mechanism 19 for rotating the shaft 17, and a rotary switch 20 for controlling rotation of the shaft. Said wheel 18 is provided with a cylindrical axis 23 having a stop plate 24 for receiving the free end of the shaft 17, said stop plate being equipped with three notches 25 in the circumference thereof, the notches 25 being unequally spaced apart from each other. As shown in FIG. 6, the rotating shaft 17 has at the free end thereof an engaging member 27 having three notches similar to the said notches 25 and three projection 28, each of which is equipped with a small aperture A cylindrical fixing member 30 is so formed as to allow insertion into the cylindrical axis 23 and is provided with a knob 31 at the outer end thereof and legs 32 at inner end thereof, the legs 32 being adapted to pass through the notches 25 and 26. Each end of the 1 legs 32 is bent at right angle to form a bending portion 33, an inner surface of which is provided with a protrusion 34 extending into the appropriate aperture 29 of the engaging member 27, thereby performing connection between the wheel 18 and the rotating shaft 17. Disposed between the fixing member 24 and stop plate 30 is a spring 35 for maintaining the connection between the wheel 18 and the shaft 17. At its inner end portion the cylindrical axis 23 is supported by a shoulder 37 of the shaft 17, said shoulder being provided with a flange 36 having an opening 39 to engage projections 38 whichare horizontally formed at the inner end of the shaft 17, so that the wheel may be set in a predeterminate position at all time. Each side of the'spaces 40 of the wheel 17 is so arranged that when the each cartridge 12 is inserted into the appropriate space, one side portion of the cartridge 12 is exposed from the space to be operated by the feedingand withdrawing means 13, said each space being provided with a spring projection 41 cooperating with a recess (not shown) on the cartridge 12 for supporting the latter in position. The cartridges 12 are capable of being inserted into and removed from the spaces 40 along the axis thereof, and at an adjacent portion to inner side of the cartridge the spaces are covered by a plate 42 which is equipped with a plurality of reading marks 43 on the outer surface thereof, each of-said reading marks being positioned opposite a space 40.

As shown in FIG. 7, the flange 36 has on the surface opposite to the housing 16 a plurality of earns 44, the

number of which is equal to the number of the spaces 40. The earns 44 operate a limit switch 45 secured to the housing 16.

Rotary contact arms 47 and 48 of the rotary switch 20 attached to the one end portion of the shaft 17 are I contacted with a stationary disc 49 secured to the hous- 3 ing 16, said disc 49 being provided with contact points 105 to 112 (shown in FIG. 11), the number of which is equal to the number of spaces 40.

The drive mechanism 19 for rotating the shaft 17 includes an electric motor mounted on the supporter 51 fixed to the housing 16. Out put of the motor is delivered to a pinion 53 through a spindle 52, and then to a large gear 56 of a twin wheel which is rotatably supported by a clutch wheel 54. Said clutch wheel 54 has on the circumference thereof a plurality of notches to which a clutch bar 58 operated by a solenoid 57 is adapted to engage for stopping the rotation of the clutch wheel 54. A small gear 59 of the twin wheel 55 is engaged with a large gear 61 of a second twin wheel rotatably supported by the spindle 52, a small gear 62 of the twin wheel 60 being engaged with a gear wheel 63. The rotation of the gear wheel 63 is then delivered to a gear wheel 69 secured to the shaft 17 through an axle 64, gears 65, 66, an axle 67 and a gear 68. The number of cogs of the large gear 56 in the first twin wheel 56 and of the large gear 61 in the second twin wheel 60 are equal to each other, and the numbers of cogs of the small gear 59 in the first twin wheel 55 and of the pinion 53 also are equal to each other, so that when the clutch bar 58 is unengaged with the notch of the clutch wheel 54, the latter'may be'idled about the. spindle 52 with the first twin wheel 55, whereby power of the motor cannot be delivered to the shaft 17. That is, when the clutch wheel is not engaged by the clutch bar 58, rotation of the pinion 53 will rotate the gears 56 and 59, but the gear 59 will merely travel around the gear 61 and will not cause rotation of the gear 61. Movement of the gear 59 around the gear 61 is permitted by the idling movement of the clutch wheel 54 on the spindle 52. When the clutch wheel 54 is engaged by the clutch bar 58, the gear 59 will rotate in a fixed position and will drive the gear 61.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10, the means 13 for feeding and withdrawing the cartridge to and from the appropriate space 40 includes a horizontal shaft 70 having plane upper surface along the axis thereof. Said shaft 70 is alternately rotated clockwise and counterclockwise through an angle of about 45 and counterclockwise by means of a solenoid 73 through connecting arms 71, 72 and 75 as particularly shown in FIG. 10. Said arm 75 is equipped with a contact 77 operating a limit switch 76. The horizontal shaft 70 is provided with'a sliding member 78 which is slidable along the shaft 70 and which is free from rotation of the shaft 70. The sliding member 78 is formed in U=shape in section, and leg portions 79 of the member 78 are supported by the shaft 70. In addition, the sliding member 78 is connected to the upper end of an oscillating arm 81 by means of a pin 80 and a long opening 82, said arm 81 being oscillated by a motor 84 through connecting rods 83 and 85, thereby reciprocating the sliding member 78 along the shaft 70. Designated at 86 and 87 in FIG. 3 are limit switches for detecting maximum leftward oscillation of the arm 81, and a right hand limit switch 88 is adapted to detect maximum rightward oscillation of the arm 81.

The shaft 70 is further provided with a'member 90 between the leg portions 79 of the sliding member 78 and a spring 91, said member 90 being slidable with motion ofthe sliding member 78 and being rotatable with motion of the shaft 70. Said spring 91 biases the member 90 to the right in FIG. 8. The member 90 includes a catch 94 having a bent end 92 for engaging the front portion of the cartridge 12 and an adjustable clasp 93 for engaging the rear part of the cartridge.

The adjustable clasp 93 consists of rocking part 96 pivoted to the catch 94 at one end thereof and having roller-supporting arm 95 at free end thereof and a plate 97 slidably mounted to the shaft 70 between the one leg portion 79 of the sliding member 78 and the spring 91, said roller-supporting arm 95 is movably pivoted to the arm 95. A pin 103 is projected from an intermediate portion of the rocking part 96, and the upper portion of the pin is passed through a long hole 98 of the catch 94 and inserted into an opening 99 formed in the plate 97. Further, at the free end portion of the rollersupporting arm 95, roller 100, adapted to contact a portion of the cartridge 12, is pivoted by a spindle 101, one end of which is inserted into a long hole 102 formed in the catch 94 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

From the above-mentioned construction, it will be understood that when the sliding member 78 is moved in the direction of the right hand in FIG. 8 for transferring the cartridge to the sound reproducing means 14, the plate 97 is first moved with the sliding member 78 so that the pin 103 of the rocking part 96 is biased by one edge of the opening 99 of the plate 97. This oscillates the rocking arm 96 about its pivotal point thereof with the roller-supporting arm 95 whereby the roller of the armt95 is moved toward the rear surface of the cartridge 12 along the long hole 102 to catch the cartridge 12 between the roller 100 and the bent end 92. Then, by the continuity of the movement of the sliding member 78 toward the right in FIG. 8, the transfer of the cartridge 12 is effectly established. I

The control means 15 controls the receiving means 11, the transfer means 13 and the sound reproducing means 14. The sound a reproducing means 14 may be formed in a conventional manner, so that explanation of the manner for controlling the sound reproducing means is omitted from the following description of the control means.

FIG. 11 diagrammatically illustrates the control means for the receiving means 11 and the transfer means 13. The contact points 105 to 112 formed on the stationary disc 49 are'elec'trically connected to lower switchesof twin push switches 1 13 to 120, respectively, that is, the contact point 105 to the twin switch 1 13, the point 106 to the switch 114, the point 107 to the switch 115, the point 108 to the switch 116, the point 109 to the switch 117, the point 110 to the switch 118, the point 111 to the switch 119 and the point 112 to the switch 120. The group of said push switches are of the type of alternative selective switch. A relay 121 for a limit switch 122 is set in such a manner that when the contact arm 47 of the rotary switch 20 is in contact with the selected point, for example, point 105 connected with the switch 113 which is selectively switched on, the relay 121 is in OFF condition, and

. while the contact arm 47 of the rotary switch 20 is being moved on the other points 106 to 112 the relay is in ON condition. The contact arm 47 is electrically grounded, and the end of the contact arm is wide enough to bridge the gap between adjacent contact points 105, 106, 107, etc. The limit switch 122 is normally connected to the limit switch 88, and when the limit switch 122 is switched by the relay 121 as shown in dotted line in FIG. 1 the switch 122 is connected to 1 the limit switch 86. Said limit switch 86 is normally connected to the motor 84 of the transfer means 13, and the motor 84 is actuated when the limit switch 76 is switched to ON condition by operation of the solenoid 73. The solenoid 73 is operated as the limit switch 122 is changed to left hand as shown FIG. 11 at dotted line by the relay 121. By action of the motor the arm 81 is oscillated toward left hand in FIG. 11 to switch on the limit switch 86, thereby actuating the motor 50. The motor 50 is connected in parallel with the solenoid 57 for the clutch arm 58 cooperating with the clutch wheel 54. Designated at 127 is a main switch for connecting a power source 123 with the control circuit.

In the FIG. 11, the limit switches 45, 76, 86, 87, 88, the solenoid 57 and 73 and the relay 121 of the control circuit is shown in the sound reproducing condition of the cartridge 12 selected by the push switch 113..Now, by pushing another desired push switch 120, the push switch 113 is changed into OFF condition and the relay 121 is changed into ON condition since the contact arm 47 is not in contact with the point 112 connected to the switch 120. The relay switches the limit switch 122, forming a circuit connection between the solenoid 73 and a power source 123 thereby actuating the solenoid 73. By this action, the limit switch 76 is switched on to drive the motor 84 of thetransfer means 13, so that the cartridge 12 positioned in the sound reproducing means 14 may be transferred to the appropriate space 40. Then, the limi-t switch 86 is switched to the left hand designated at dotted line as shown in FIG. 11 upon oscillation of the arm 81, stopping action of the transfer means 13 and actuating the motor 50 and the solenoid 57. The motor 50 drives the shaft 17 with the wheel 18, so that the contact arm 47 of the rotary switch 20 will be moved to the contact point 112 connected with the push switch 120. When the contact arm 47 is fully moved onto the contact point 112, the relay circuit is broken and the relay 121 is changed into OFF condition, and the limit switch 122 is returned to its original position, but action of the motor 50 continues until switching of the limit switch 45 by virtue of the earns 44 of the flange 36. Upon switching of the limit switch 45 into the right hand, the solenoid 73 is again energized by reason of connection between ground 128 and the solenoid 73 through the limit switches 122 and 88. The solenoid 73 rotates the shaft 70 with the catch 94 to dispose the latter to the catching position for the cartridge as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. Simultaneously, the solenoid 73 operates the limit switch 76 to energize the motor 84, so that the oscillating arm 81 isoscillated in the direction to right hand in FIG. 11. In this condition, the limit switch 88 is switched off by the oscillating arm 81 and the motor 84 is stopped. Thus, the desired cartridge may be fed into the position of the sound reproducing means and will be playable.

The upper switches of the twin push switches are connected with a conventional monomulti circuit 124 having manual switches 125 and 126. The monomulti circuit 124 is connected to a contact disc 130 provided with radial projections 129, the latter being adapted to be engaged by the contact arm 48 of the rotary switch. The circuit 124 is so arranged as to reset when. the rotary arm 47 is fully engaged on the each of contact points 105 to 112. The switch 125 is adapted to convey signal output from the cartridge 12 to the monomulti circuit 124, the'signal output being dispatched at end of play of each channel in the cartridge. So that, by operating the switch 125, the cartridge will be automatically changed to next cartridge after the play of one channel in turn. The switch 126 is to convey signal output from the cartridge dispatched at the finish of playing of four channels in the cartridge to the monomulti circuit 124, whereby the cartridge may be automatically changed to next cartridge after the play of four channel in turn. The subject invention in its broader aspects is not limited only to the specific'embodiment shown and described but departure may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and with sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. A selective tape recorder for endless tape cartridges comprising means for storing a plurality of endless tape cartridges having tapes with sound tracks thereon, playing means for reproducing the sound tracks of the tapes, means for carrying a cartridge from the storing means to the playing means and from the playing means to the storing means, and control means for controlling each of said means electrically and correlatively, the storing means including a rotatable wheel having a plurality of spaces around the circumference thereof for receiving the cartridges, each of the spaces being provided with a side opening whereby the cartridge within a space can be withdrawn through the side opening parallel to the axial direction of the wheel, the carrying meansincluding an elongated shaft extending from the storing means to the playing means parallel to the axial direction of the wheel and cartridge-engaging means slidably mounted on the elongated shaft.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said cartridgeengaging means includes an elongated catch member having a bent end and clasp means movably mounted on the other end thereof to hold a cartridge between the bent end and the clasp means, and power means for moving the cartridge engaging means along the elongated shaft.

.3. The structure of claim 2 in which the catch member is mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, and means for rotating the shaft and the catch member toward and away from a cartridge.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which said clasp means includes a roller for contacting the cartridge, a supporting arm pivotally supporting the roller, a rocking'bar having a pair of ends, one end of the rocking bar being pivotally connected to the catch member and the other end of the rocking bar pivotally supporting the supporting arm.

5. The structure of claim 2 in which the power means for the cartridge-engaging means includes an oscillating bar connected to the cartridge-engaging means for reciprocating the cartridge-engaging means on the shaft.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which the control means includes limit switches engageable by the oscillating bar for detecting maximum oscillation of the oscillating bar. l 

1. A selective tape recorder for endless tape cartridges comprising means for storing a plurality of endless tape cartridges having tapes with sound tracks thereon, playing means for reproducing the sound tracks of the tapes, means for carrying a cartridge from the storing means to the playing means and from the playing means to the storing means, and control means for controlling each of said means electrically and correlatively, the storing means including a rotatable wheel having a plurality of spaces around the circumference thereof for receiving the cartridges, each of the spaces being provided with a side opening whereby the cartridge within a space can be withdrawn through the side opening parallel to the axial direction of the wheel, the carrying means including an elongated shaft extending from the storing means to the playing means parallel to the axial direction of the wheel and cartridge-engaging means slidably mounted on the elongated shaft.
 2. The structure of claim 1 in which said cartridge-engaging means includes an elongated catch member having a bent end and clasp means movably mounted on the other end thereof to hold a cartridge between the bent end and the clasp means, and power means for moving the cartridge engaging means along the elongated shaft.
 3. The structure of claim 2 in which the catch member is mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, and means for rotating the shaft and the catch member toward and away from a cartridge.
 4. The structure of claim 2 in which said clasp means includes a roller for contacting the cartridge, a supporting arm pivotally supporting the roller, a rocking bar having a pair of ends, one end of the rocking bar being pivotally connected to the catch member and the other end of the rocking bar pivotally supporting the supporting arm.
 5. The structure of claim 2 in which the power means for the cartridge-engaging means includes an oscillating bar connected to the cartridge-engaging means for reciprocating the cartridge-engaging means on the shaft.
 6. The structure of claim 5 in which the control means includes limit switches engageable by the oscillating bar for detecting maximum oscillation of the oscillating bar. 